Premium
Alabama Department of Mental Health seeks three crisis centers
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
mental health weekly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1556-7583
pISSN - 1058-1103
DOI - 10.1002/mhw.32218
Subject(s) - mental health , agency (philosophy) , legislature , state (computer science) , enforcement , emergency department , public administration , law enforcement , crisis management , health care , business , political science , medicine , medical emergency , nursing , law , psychiatry , sociology , social science , algorithm , computer science
The Alabama Department of Mental Health is asking the legislature for $18 million to create three crisis diversion centers around the state, the Times Daily reported Jan. 26. Department Commissioner Lynn Beshear said these centers will ensure those facing mental health crises will get the proper care, instead of ending up in a county jail or an emergency room. “These centers allow for the most intensive levels of care at a centralized location in a cost‐effective manner,” Beshear told lawmakers last week during General Fund agency budget hearings at the State House. According to the state Department of Mental Health, crisis diversion centers include both walk‐in access for individuals and the ability for emergency departments and law enforcement agencies to transfer people to the centers for crisis care, including short‐term admission, medication management, case management, discharge planning and connection to ongoing behavioral health care services. Where the centers would be located has not been determined. Contingent on the 2021 budget allocations, Beshear said they plan on awarding the crisis diversion projects by July 1.